On his 100th birthday, Eubie Blake said "If I had of known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

Wellness should be for Life:

Wellness is not just the absence of disease; it is also and more importantly about achieving mental, emotional and physical wellbeing . Making positive lifestyle choices can lead to great health , vitality and longevity .It is the best form of preventative medicine and provides you with the best tools for anti aging

7 Easy Tips to slow down the ageing process.

Don't go on a diet ! It is easy to eat well and be healthy following these key steps of the Wellness eating plan:

2. Enjoy a minimum of three cups of fresh vegetables every day. If you can see a rainbow of colour on your plate you will be sure you a getting a full spectrum of antioxidants. Fresh is always best and organic is always optimal.

3. Enjoy at least of two pieces of fruit per day. Be aware that too much fruit may affect blood sugar levels so watch out for that.

4. Starchy carbohydrates should be kept at a minimum, with only one or two small serves per day. These foods include breads ,rice, pasta and potatoes. Where possible choose low glycaemic index options such as wholegrain varieties.

5. Include healthy oils everyday , You can also enjoy nuts, seeds . Have two tablespoons of healthy oils such as olive oil, macadamia oil or flaxseed oil. Nuts and seeds can also provide protein and other nutrients, such as selenium from Brazil nuts.

6. Hydration is important . Enjoy at least eight glasses or two litres of pure water per day. You can add natural flavourings such as fresh lemon, lime or mint . Keep soft drinks to the absolute minimum including the diet drinks and caffeinated drinks. These shouldn't be consumed on a daily basis. Also Limit alcohol.

7. Remember it is what you do most of the time that counts . Food should not become a stress and having the less healthy choices occasionally will not do you any harm . Having a free day or a free meal once a week can also be helpful especially if you feel deprived or suffer cravings, It can be interesting however that often on these free days people are often still drawn to the healthier choices as their Body's get used to the healthier food.

Have fun ,be active and find time for relaxation Remember that along with healthy eating, exercise is also important for slowing down the ageing process. and achieving great health Aim for 30 minutes 3 x per week or daily if possible. If possible include some weight bearing exercise . This will help to protect Muscle Mass which is one of the most important organs associated with ageing..

Relaxation activities such as yoga and ,spending time in nature and meditation can also help increase wellbeing and help keep stress at a minimum.

Social activities, such as sharing a meal or having a laugh with friends and family are also an important part of a happy, balanced life.

Maintain Your Wellness with Key Supplements:

Research shows nutritional supplements can complement your Wellness diet and play a key role in anti ageing.

These include

1. A high quality omega 3 fish oil to help support a healthy heart ,joints and nervous system.

2. A high-strength probiotic which can help to maintain the right balance in your digestive tract of good and bad bacteria.

3. A good quality daily multivitamin and mineral formula to fill any nutritional gaps that your diet doesn't fulfil.

4. A high potency good quality antioxidant formula to support healthy ageing and reduce the risk of developing chronic illness

Would you like to have more energy, vitality ,better immunity and slow down the ageing process ?

By combining a healthy eating plan with regular exercise, relaxation and fun, along with key nutritional supplementation. you can defy the aging process and not live long ,but live well.

ANTI AGING SKIN TREATMENTS

At Rotorua Health and Spa we can fight aging internally and externally. We can assess how well the body is aging at a cellular level and advise on the correct supplementation and we have our Beauty Therapists who are experts at anti aging beauty therapies

We Use Galvanic Technology to lift and tone the face and reduce wrinkles, and Organic Specialized skin products to nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

We also have our exclusive 24carat gold facials which is the ultimate anti aging skin rejuvenation treatment.

You are welcome to contact us about any of our Specialised Anti aging facials, Beauty treatments, and wellness assessments.

Whether you are buying anti-aging nutrition supplements, cereal or skincare, these days the word "antioxidant" appears on every box and every product label. But does having antioxidants actually do anything for us? According to the scientists, yes

Antioxidants, vitamins and minerals slow doing the aging process on the body by neutralizing free radicals and oxidants -- and may protect you from a host of diseases while they are at it. Everything from Alzheimer's Disease to Cancer have been shown to respond positively to treatment with antioxidants, and that's not all. Studies show antioxidants also improve the health and appearance of your skin. While antioxidants shouldn't be treated as a panacea or a cure-all, they certainly deserve the attention that they are receiving.

How does Anti-Aging Nutrition Work?

Free radicals are imbalanced atoms that are ever present in the environment, and in our own bodies. We produce free radicals during exercise, detoxification, and times of increased stress. Pollution, food preservatives, toxins, heavy metals and heat-damaged oils may also create more free radicals. While the human body can handle a certain amount of free radical activity on its own, over time free radicals cause small amounts of chronic damage to our tissues at the cellular level, as the free radicals rip into us in attempt to correct their own imbalanced atoms. Age-related health problems, including cancer, stroke, high cholesterol and neuro-degenerative illness, have all been linked with an increased free radical load inside the body.

Do We Need To Buy Antioxidants?

Humans produce their own chemical antioxidants, but with modern day lifestyle these protective agents are often not enough. Premature aging is one of the signs that our bodies simply cannot handle the constant onslaught of chemical attack it has to defend against each day. Cells and tissues are becoming tired, and require extra support. It is for this reason that scientists and doctors have increased their research into the effects of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that slow down the aging process. Many of these health-promoting nutrients not only protect against oxidative and free radical damage, but have a wide range of other therapeutic and medicinal properties as well.

Antioxidants help to protect the health and youth of tissues both inside the body and outside the body. Skin is the largest organ of the human body, and provides one of the most obvious ways of determining the rate at which you are aging. Skin is exposed to oxygen, pollution, UV rays from the sun, and even chemicals from body care and beauty products that may cause irritation and tissue damage at a small scale.

Vitamin C

When considering both inner and outer health, anti-aging nutrition almost always points towards vitamin C. Up to 30% of all vitamin C in the body is found in the skin, as it is the most vital nutrient for defending against solar radiation and photodamage. It is also the most important nutrient for collagen synthesis, which makes skin strong, smooth and healthy.

In a 6-month clinical trial funded by the University of Franche-Comté in France, researchers found that a topical cream containing 5% vitamin C significantly improved the integrity, density and health of the participant's skin, while also reducing wrinkles.

Niacin

Vitamin B is yet another vitamin known for having holistic anti-aging properties. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has been well researched for its effects in anxiety, depression and mood disorders, as well as cholesterol and heart health.

According to researchers from Miami Valley Laboratories in the U.S.A., niacin also helps to prevent visible aging on the facial skin cells. During their 6-week study with 50 female participants, niacin creams significantly reduced fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, blotches, elasticity, and sallow skin. Similar to vitamin C, niacin is another vitamin and antioxidant that has beneficial properties both for health and for visible anti-aging.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fascinating vitamin in that humans require exposure to UV light in order to manufacture adequate levels of vitamin D. Most people concerned about premature aging and photodamaged skin might avoid the sun all-together. On the contrary, not getting enough sunlight might not only cause premature aging, but also but you at risk to a variety of diseases. Vitamin D is important for anti-aging nutrition and preventing various types of cancer, enhancing immune function, balancing mood and hormone levels, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Scientists from the University of Zaragoza in Spain confirmed that vitamin D has a powerful influence on aging, as low levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of early mortality from all causes. While protecting against photodamage from the sun's rays is important for maintaining the youth of skin, becoming deficient in vitamin D by overdoing sunscreen may be just as bad.

Selenium and Zinc

Similar to vitamin D, other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants with a specific action on the immune system are being found to reduce the risk of early mortality from a range of causes. Among these, zinc and selenium have the most significant benefits. Both are stimulants of specific and non-specific immune function, meaning they defend against general microbes and free radicals, as well as specific strains of viruses and bacteria. In addition, zinc and selenium reduce the risk of various forms of cancer.

In a study on selenium funded by the University of Arizona, researchers found that adequate dietary levels of selenium reduced the risk of all types of cancer significantly. Selenium also reduces the rate of mortality in cancer patients, especially patients suffering from prostate cancer (71%), oesophageal cancer (67%), lung cancer (41%) and colon cancer (62%). Zinc has shown in various studies to reduce the risk of these same types of cancer as well, and is an important factor in anti-aging nutrition for reproductive health in men and women.

Benefits of Phosphatidylserine is currently one of the hottest topics in medical journals and portals.

Researchers and scientists in the area of neurological sciences are hailing Phosphatidylserine as a magical memory enhancer. It is now also available in the form of medicine for people who suffer from memory loss or degrading brain functions due to age or any other factor.

Since memory loss and brain dysfunction are quite common conditions, a majority of people are quite excited about the benefits of Phosphatidylserine and medicines that contain Phosphatidylserine. However, before you go on trying Phosphatidylserine supplements for memory, you must first understand what it actually is.

What is Phosphatidylserine?

Phosphatidylserine is a kind of chemical classified as phospholipids. Phospholipids, essentially, are fat soluble chemicals. These chemicals play an important role in cell building and growth of cells in our body. Naturally, phospholipids are already present in cell membrane.

Generally, Phosphatidylserine is a non-essential nutrient present in abundance in our cell membrane. Moreover, our body is able to produce Phosphatidylserine naturally and does not require additional supplement through food or medicine. However, with the passage of time, the aging mechanism affects the synthesis of Phosphatidylserine in our cells. This is one of the explanations behind degrading mental functions and cognitive ability with age. In many cases, this phenomenon leads to dementia and ageassociated memory impairment. In such cases, Phosphatidylserine supplements for memory can serve as a beneficial cure.

Where does it come from?

Our body may produce enough Phosphatidylserine for us but when it comes to supplement, it can come from animal as well as plant sources. In both cases, there aren't too many options. Animal Phosphatidylserine is obtained from bovine brain and organ meat such as lamb's kidney. In plants, Phosphatidylserine is found in beans containing soy lecithin, for instance, soy beans and white beans.

However, Phosphatidylserine supplements are now easily available in the form of standardized medicines. Yet, you must consult your physician before taking these supplements.

Benefits of Phosphatidylserine

As we have mentioned before, some of the major benefits of Phosphatidylserine involve improved brain function and memory. However, since it is a vital element for our cells, it also found helpful in improving many other health conditions as well. Here is a list of conditions in which Phosphatidylserine can prove to be most beneficial.

• Age Related Memory Impairment

–This mainly includes conditions such as Alzheimers. The proposition is made on concrete results of a test conducted by several scientists. The results suggest that 300 mg Phosphatidylserine everyday for twelve weeks can roll back a person's memory and mental capacity to as much as twelve years. Moreover, it also improves language skills and thinking abilities.This, however, works more efficiently on people aged 50 to 80.

• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

-Phosphatidylserine also has a positive effect on children and adults with ADHD. While it may not be the complete cure, it does relax the brain in order to reduce ADHD related symptoms such as anxiety, nervousness and hyperactivity. This property also makes it a useful supplement for students who do not suffer from ADHD but do have issues related to memory and concentration. Phosphatidylserine supplements for memory can greatly improve their academic performance.

• Muscle Recovery and Reduced Cortisol

– This may not be a memory or brain related benefit but it does fight the symptoms of aging as well. With age, our muscles lose the ability to recover and heal. This can be serious problem for athletes and people who work-out regularly. This is because high-intensity workouts may result in production of Cortisol. It is a stress hormone which may result in the breakdown of tissue during the exercise. By reducing the production of this hormone, Phosphatidylserine improves endurance and recovery in athletes.

Other Benefits

Most physicians recommend Phosphatidylserine supplements for memory but benefits of Phosphatidylserine are not limited to brain functions. Some other proven effects of Phosphatidylserine are as follows.

• Increases attention, concentration and learning

• Reduces stress and relaxes the mind

• Decreases anxiety and depression

• Improves hearing and prevent related problems

• Lowers blood pressure

• Reduces asthma

At Rotorua Health and Spa we have a high quality (Practioner only) Phoshatidylserine. However, it must be noted that complete benefits of Phosphatidylserine can only be realized when used according to your prescription with naturopath Annette or your natural health practitiioner

"Taking a multivitamin every day can help your body to age well, and is associated with longer telomere length. Healthy middle aged women who were daily users of multivitamins were found to have 5.1% longer telomeres. Shorter telomere length can be viewed as a biomarker of genomic damage and advanced cellular ageing."

There has been a lot more publicity of late about the significance of aging, risk of cancer and chronic illness and telomere length

What are telomeres?

As you will know the body is made up of cells and in each cell is a nucleus which contains all the genetic material.

Genes are composed of strands of DNA called chromosomes and on the ends of the chromosomes are telomeres. Telomeres protect the genetic material and make it possible for the cells to divide. You can imagine a telomere looking a little like the plastic tip on the end of a shoe lace. It protects the chromosome from fraying and damaging.

Telomeres shorten each time the cell divides and when the telomeres are too short the cell can't divide and therefore dies Shortened Telomeres is a marker of disease risk, disease progression and premature mortality. The risk of illnesses such as Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even Dementia therefore are increased.

For a healthy long life with reduced risk of chronic illness we all need long Telomeres

Stress and Telomeres

A stressful childhood and adverse life events that cause anxiety can influence Telomere Length as an adult

It is interesting to note that higher levels of Pessimism are also associated with shorter Telomeres as well as increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.

Lifestyle factors that can reduce Telomere length include stress, cigarette smoking, obesity ,poor sleep and insufficient sleep.Factors that can increase telomeres include a healthy diet

A study showing how effective this can be was done on 30 men with biopsy diagnosed low risk prostate cancer They were asked to make lifestyle related techniques which included a low fat whole food diet, low in refined carbohydrates ,moderate exercise ( 30 minutes a day) stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga and supplements which included fish oil, vitamin C vitamin E and selenium and a protein powder. Telomerase activity increased by 29.84% in 3 months ( Telomerase is an enzyme that repairs and lengthens Telomeres)

No doubt we will be hearing more in the future about Telomeres and health and premature aging.

We hear so much that a healthy diet ,low stress, a balanced lifestyle, supplementation with good quality nutritionals, moderate regular exercise can have a huge impact on our wellness ,disease risk and our longevity. These factors influence all aspects of our health from our immune system to our nervous system in fact every body system and also with new research at that subtle genetic level and this interesting world of the Telomere.

The body in its wisdom does give us these ways to help influence and change our health for the positive at even these critical genetic levels.